Baking Hermann
Recipes

Hemp Seed Tofu

A quick word of caution. Homemade hemp seed tofu is not quite like soybean tofu. It makes a much denser and pastier tofu with a bitter flavour. Using the right amount of vinegar and seasoning it well before serving helps with the bitterness, but the texture is still very much a work in progress. Nonetheless, this tofu is an expression of what is possible with locally grown foods and takes some pressure of the much overused soybean.
30 min

Hemp seeds contain fatty acids, which, when heated, begin to curdle. That’s why you’ll notice the ‘hemp milk’ curdling before you even introduce any additional acid. You also don’t need to soak hemp seeds before turning them into tofu. For the rest, the process of making hemp tofu is very similar to traditional tofu methods. In this recipe, apple cider vinegar is used to further curdle the homemade hemp milk. The soft curds can then be strained into a lined tofu mold before it is pressed into a firm block. Most molds will come with their own cheesecloth, but if you already have a cheesecloth at home, you can use it to line any container from which the liquid can drain.

makes around 400g / 1 block of tofu

Ingredients

  • 300g hemp seeds

  • 4 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Method

Pulse 100g of the hemp seeds in a food processor to break down slightly. Add 500 ml of water and blend until smooth. Filter the blended hemp seeds through a sieve into a saucepan and use a spoon to squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Discard the pulp or use it in baking (you can mix it into Sourdough Rye Bread dough). Repeat the same step with the remaining hemp seeds (if your food processor holds enough volume, you can do more at a time, but I usually get better results by doing it in batches).

Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, whisking it occasionally to avoid it from sticking. In the meantime, measure out the apple cider vinegar. You want around 60 ml.

As the liquid heats up to boiling temperature, it will already begin to curdle. Don’t worry if that happens, just continue whisking it. Once it begins to boil, turn off the heat and let it sit for a minute to cool down slightly (it should be around 90°C). Then stir in the apple cider vinegar and set the pan aside for 10 minutes while it continues to curdle.

Line a mold with a cheesecloth, place it into a deep tray (to catch any residue liquid) and use a slotted spoon to transfer the solids to the mold. Fold the cloth over to cover the solids and place a weight (2 tins of beans) on top to press the tofu. Let it firm up for 60 minutes, then remove the tofu from the mold.

To store the tofu, keep it in a bit of filtered water to avoid it from drying out. It will stay well in the fridge for around 3 – 4 days.

Hemp Seed Tofu

A quick word of caution. Homemade hemp seed tofu is not quite like soybean tofu. It makes a much denser and pastier tofu with a bitter flavour. Using the right amount of vinegar and seasoning it well before serving helps with the bitterness, but the texture is still very much a work in progress. Nonetheless, this tofu is an expression of what is possible with locally grown foods and takes some pressure of the much overused soybean.
Active Time 10 minutes
Course Staples
Servings 1 block of 400g tofu

Ingredients
  

  • 300 g hemp seeds
  • 4 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions
 

  • Pulse 100g of the hemp seeds in a food processor to break down slightly. Add 500 ml of water and blend until smooth. Filter the blended hemp seeds through a sieve into a sauce pan and use a spoon to squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Discard the pulp or use in baking (you can mix it into Sourdough Rye Bread dough). Repeat the same step with the remaining hemp seeds (if your food processor holds enough volume, you can do more at a time, but I usually get better results by doing it in batches).
  • Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, whisking it occasionally to avoid it from sticking. In the meantime, measure out the apple cider vinegar. You want around 60 ml.
  • As the liquid heats up to boiling temperature, it will already begin to curdle. Don’t worry if that happens, just continue whisking it. Once it begins to boil, turn off the heat and let it sit for a minute to cool down slightly (it should be around 90°C). Then stir in the apple cider vinegar and set the pan aside for 10 minutes while it continues to curdle.
  • Line a mold with a cheesecloth, place it into a deep tray (to catch any residue liquid) and use a slotted spoon to transfer the solids to the mold. Fold the cloth over to cover the solids and place a weight (2 tins of beans) on top to press the tofu. Let it firm up for 60 minutes, then remove the tofu from the mold.
  • To store the tofu, keep it in a bit of filtered water to avoid it from drying out. It will stay well in the fridge for around 3 - 4 days.
Print Recipe

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Recent Recipes

Kuzhi Paniyaram (Indian Crispy Lentil & Rice Balls)

Kuzhi Paniyaram (Indian Crispy Lentil & Rice Balls)

Ever since I made Idli for the first time, they have become a firm favourite. There is something magical about being able to mix together a simple batter made from rice and lentils and let it ferment all by itself without the need for any form of added yeast. A...

Peanut Spread

Peanut Spread

Previously, I've made tofu out of chickpeas, green peas, red lentils, black beans and, the traditional one, soybeans. Which is another way of saying that you can make tofu out of pretty much any legume. If you'd like to know more about this, check out my Any Legume...

Çiğ Köfte (Turkish Bulgur Balls)

Çiğ Köfte (Turkish Bulgur Balls)

Who would have thought that the Turkish Health Ministry would play a part in creating one of the country's most iconic plant-based street food dishes? Çiğ Köfte has long been a staple food in the southeastern parts of Türkiye. However, it is traditionally made with a...

Curry Leaves Ice Cubes

Curry Leaves Ice Cubes

Curry leaves grow in abundance in India and are easily available in most shops for a few rupees. But if you live elsewhere you might find it difficult to source them. The trouble is that curry leaves are an incredibly aromatic and delicious addition to Indian food....

Kenyan Chapati

Kenyan Chapati

These flakey flatbreads are the perfect companion to Ndengu, a rich Kenyan mung bean curry. Although called chapati, it is similar to Indian Laccha Paratha, one of the many cross-cultural influences from the Indian subcontinent that workers brought to Kenya in the...

Ndengu (Kenyan Mung Bean Curry)

Ndengu (Kenyan Mung Bean Curry)

In the 19th century, thousands of Indian workers were employed in Kenya to build a vast local railway network. They brought with them their own food culture and used ingredients and cooking methods to create dishes that felt close to home. Today, many Kenyan dishes...

Hazelnut Tofu (Hazelnut Dofu)

Hazelnut Tofu (Hazelnut Dofu)

Imagine the flavour of roasted nuts captured into a creamy pudding. That's what Hazelnut Dofu is all about. It's inspired by Goma Dofu, a traditional Japanese appetiser that is made with sesame seeds and kuzu starch. But you can follow the same method and turn any nut...

Potaje de Garbanzos (Spanish Chickpea, Potato & Spinach Stew)

Potaje de Garbanzos (Spanish Chickpea, Potato & Spinach Stew)

During my search for traditional plant-based dishes from around the world two themes reappear time and again. Religion and poverty. Both of these have long shaped food cultures towards naturally vegan options. Potaje de Garbanzos is a great example. The comforting...

Coconut Milk (1 Ingredient)

Coconut Milk (1 Ingredient)

Making your own coconut milk from scratch might seem futile. After all, it's easily available in cans in most stores. However, many brands use added thickeners and stabilisers to give the coconut milk a creamy texture that doesn't separate, and even organic coconut...

Ugali (Tanzanian Maize Meal)

Ugali (Tanzanian Maize Meal)

Across the African Great Lakes region, you'll find versions of Ugali. Most parts of Tanzania and Kenya share the same name for it, while it's known as Sadza in Zimbabwe. The Malawian version is called Nsima and was even added to the UNESCO Representative List of the...

Pani Walalu (Sri Lankan New Year Sweet)

Pani Walalu (Sri Lankan New Year Sweet)

Sinking your teeth into Pani Walalu is a textural delight as much as it is a flavourful sensation. Crispy and sweet on the outside, soft and slightly savoury on the inside, these fermented urad dal sweets are an unusual but extremely satisfying treat. They are...

Tahdig-Inspired Crispy Saffron Rice

Tahdig-Inspired Crispy Saffron Rice

Tahdig is a culinary highlight of Persian cooking. Perfectly steamed rice made better by giving it an incredibly crispy bottom layer. Traditionally, it's made with butter and/or yoghurt, but I've always been craving a naturally plant-based version of this crispy rice....